Two scientists at Akron station named 'fellows'

David C. Nielsen, left, a research agronom­­ist, was recognized as a Fel­low of the Crop Science Soci­ety of America.
(Courtesy photo)

Two local scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Central Great Plains Research Station in Akron were awarded the distinction of Fellow during the recent Annual International Meeting of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America in Cincinnati.

Merle F. Vigil, soil scientist and research leader, was recognized as a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy, and David C. Nielsen, research agronomist, was recognized as a Fellow of the Crop Science Society of America. Fellow is the highest recognition bestowed by these two scientific societies. Up to 0.3 percent of the ASA's and CSSA's Active and Emeritus Members may be elected to Fellow.

Vigil earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Colorado State University and his doctorate from Kansas State University. His research focuses on soil fertility and water management for semi-arid cropping systems. His primary responsibility has been in leading and directing a multidisciplinary science team focused on developing long-term sustainable cropping systems for the Central Great Plains region.

Vigil has authored and co-authored 137 publications (55 refereed journal publications). He has served as an associate editor for Agronomy Journal and as Chair for the Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition Division of the Soil Science Society of America.

He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Iowa State University, and his doctorate from the University of Nebraska.

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His research program focuses on crop water use and water stress effects on crop productivity in dryland and irrigated cropping systems in the Great Plains. He conducts research that evaluates effects of tillage intensity and cropping frequency on crop residue and subsequent effects on precipitation storage efficiency and crop growth, development, and yield. He has used system modeling to understand the complex interactions involved in Great Plains dryland agricultural production.

Merle F. Vigil, left, a soil scien­tist and research leader, was recognized as a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy.
(Courtesy photo)

Nielsen has served as an associate editor for Agronomy Journal and Crop Science, and has been active in the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy.

Vigil and Nielsen are faculty affiliates with the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences of Colorado State University, and Nielsen is also an adjunct professor with the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture of the University of Nebraska.

The research conducted by Vigil and Nielsen and the staff of the Central Great Plains Research Station has led to the implementation of more diversified and intense cropping systems, which decrease the frequency of inefficient and environmentally unsustainable fallow periods.

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